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Helen & Earl Hocking of Mobile, Alabama
We've been fostering since 1999 and a huge number of needy hounds have
started on the road to their new lives with us. Many came to us as "damaged
goods"--dogs thrown away because somebody no longer wanted the
responsibility, or abused or simply neglected, some with trauma, and
emotional baggage. Some were ill,
Helen and Earl
Hocking
The Stagner Family of Jemison , Alabama
My family started our journey
with fostering almost 1 1/2 years ago and it has been a very uplifting, feel
good in your heart, experience. I currently have 5 fosters and each one has
their individual personality and problems…most of which we have overcome.
Marilyn Stagner The McBrayer Family of Birmingham , Alabama
Tracey McBrayer, Brett, Kelsey, Brandon,
Lacey, Mickey, and our Foster Bailee!
More stories coming soon!
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a
few were blind (we had our own blind hound), and just as many of them were
perfectly fine...just needed a new safe place to hang out until they found
their forever homes. We've had funny ones, clowns, sad ones, mellow ones
and hyper ones. But one thing they all did for us is show us that we truly
made a difference in every one of their lives. We laugh at their antics, we
get frustrated, and sometimes we cry when it was time to send them to their
forever homes, but there has never been one regret! Because fostering truly
means you save a life--you get to see the baby steps in their healing, and
giant steps as well. They don't ask for much--they look to you for safety,
for love (and yes some training) and they give back so much more than you
could ever give them. You get to see all sorts of personalities--some
great, some not so great. You get to help them adapt to new experiences
and each experience, no matter how tiny, helps them adapt and become some
future lucky owner's pet. We have become dear friends with a lot of the
folks who adopted our fosters. If more folks would just take the gamble, so
many more hounds could be saved. If you already have a dog or two, one more
really isn't more work and often your own dogs benefit from their new
friends. If you think "I don't think I can do that", think again!!
Fostering fills your heart. In a small way, you make a HUGE difference. I
cannot ever imagine a time when we won't open our lives to at least
one--there would be a void that fostering keeps filled. We often hear "it
would be too hard to say goodbye to them". But when you keep in mind what
you have accomplished, and how lucky that hound is to find it's new family,
and remember there's always another one waiting for your love, well......you
get through it. With wonderful memories. (And yes, we did fail at fostering
five times over the years--a mere drop in the bucket of those that went on
to forever homes)..JPG)
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We
have had a lot of dogs come and go to their forever homes. Each one of us
has had our favorite and we cried when they left us. We have had some that
were so scared of simple things like TV and even their own reflection, but
through love and patience they have left us brave to face the world on their
own. My 2 girls have changed so much since we began our journey in
fostering. Where most teenagers are getting into trouble I can proudly say
my child is using her time productively taking care of hounds that need
training and volunteering for BHRA. I will not deny I have been a
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“foster
failure” a couple of times, but there are some hounds that just take your
heart away. My family loves our fosters and gets excited with every new one
we get to meet and share our love with…if only for a while. What keeps my
door open to new fosters and having so many fosters is there is always a
poor hound out there with no place to go and no one to love them; or worse,
one that does not know a gentle hand…just abuse and starvation . People call
me crazy for taking on so many fosters but as long as I have my wonderful
family helping take care of these babies we will open our home to them. This
has been a major learning experience for the whole family including our own
dogs, but through it all our home is a noisy, happy, and healthy home.
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We
have been involved with BHRA now for almost two years. We had an AKC
registered female basset that I have to admit I was finished with. She
was constantly in trouble in one way or another. I spoke with "Stretch"
one day as a last effort to try and figure out how to keep her and my
sanity as well.
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When
he suggested I get another hound, I had to clarify. "Do you mean a
different one or an additional one?" He laughed and said
"An additional one, but let me explain". He explained how bassets get
bored and suggested that we try fostering for a while to see if it would
help her to have a friend.
Boy,
what a difference! We failed at fostering Mickey and he became a
permanent member of the family. Then I got a call..... they wanted to
know if we would still foster. Hmmmmm, we discussed it as a family and
decided to give it a try. Now we are on our 8th foster! What a
wonderful experience it has been for all of us. Each time we get a new
foster, all my friends have to come meet him or her. They are loved
beyond measure and we feel that's the
least
we can do to give another hound a chance at having the life they
deserve. They even have a special album on my Facebook page titled
"Furry Friends". We have been blessed to get updates from their forever
homes and I'm like a child opening a present at Christmas when I see an
email come through with an update and pictures. It is hard to tell them
goodbye, but BHRA always had another foster ready to come and take away
that sadness with new found love. One extra bowl of food each day and
lots more slobbery kisses really isn't that much to give up! I would
encourage anyone to give it a try, the worst that can happen is you
could become a foster failure like us :).